Transport container for skis and poles

ABSTRACT

A transport container for skis and poles consisting of two hollow shells for enclosing the binding area of the skis when the skis have their running surfaces joined together. One of the shells includes longitudinal grooves for receiving the ski poles and holding clips for securing the poles in the recesses. A hinge joins the two shells together along one longitudinal edge and a closing means is provided at the other edge to encase the skis in the shells. One of the shells has a central hollow portion which defines a handle for carrying the case.

United States Patent 1 Fihn 1 1 TRANSPORT CONTAINER FOR SKIS AND POLES [75] Inventor: Hans F ihn, Geretsried, Germany [73] Assignee: Weikal Plastik GmbH & C0.

Kunststoffprodukte KG, Neukolbing, Germany 22 Filed: Mar. 22, 1974 211 Appl. No.1 453,735

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Mar. 23, 1973 Germany 7311073 [52] US. Cl 224/45 S; 280/1 1.37 A [51] Int. Cl. 865d 71/00 [58] Field of Search 224/45 S, 45 R; 280/11.37 K, 11.37 A; 206/315; 190/60, 28; 150/52 R [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 770,371 9/1904 Katz 190/60 1,110,150 9/1914 Slavin et a1. 190/60 2,428,906 10/1947 Cannella 224/45 R June 17, 1975 3,399,009 8/1968 Slade 1. 206/315 3,604,228 9/1971 Conlon 224/45 S 3,737,171 6/1973 224/45 S 3,767,036 10/1973 McLeod 224/45 5 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 315,595 5/1918 Germany 190/60 240,478 4/1946 Switzerland 280/1137 A Primary ExaminerRobert J. Spar Assistant Examiner-Kenneth Noland Attorney, Agent, or FirmAllison C. Collard [57] ABSTRACT A transport container for skis and poles consisting of two hollow shells for enclosing the binding area of the skis when the skis have their running surfaces joined together. One of the shells includes longitudinal grooves for receiving the ski poles and holding clips for securing the poles in the recesses. A hinge joins the two shells together along one longitudinal edge and a closing means is provided at the other edge to encase the skis in the shells. One of the shells has a central hollow portion which defines a handle for carrying the case.

1 Claim, 4 Drawing Figures TRANSPORT CONTAINER FOR SKIS AND POLES The present invention relates to a device for the combined transportation of a pair of skis and their ski poles comprising an elongated case protecting the skis. The device abuts the running surfaces of the skis so as to protect them against soiling in the area of their bindings.

Every skier faces the problem that his skiing equipment comprises at least four individual parts, namely a pair of skis and a pair of ski poles. To conveniently transport these, several devices have become known which permit the combination of either the skis, or of the skis and poles to form a single transportation unit. The development of the so-called safety ski bindings created a further problem, in that these bindings, being made from metal, such as iron, aluminum, brass, etc., tend to be corroded by dirt to which the skis are exposed during transportation. This endangers a reliable functioning of the ski bindings during their later use. For this reason, the use of protective means is increasing, so that the ski bindings are protected from dirt dur ing transportation on a car top carrier. The protective means is preferably designed so that it will simultaneously carry accessories for the skis and possibly for the poles as well.

There are, for example, bag-shaped coverings made from water repellant textiles, or plastic sheeting which are pulled over the area of the ski bindings when the skis have been tied. Whenever bags of this type are not of a seperable construction, they have the disadvantage of cumbersome handling, as they have to be pulled over both the skis and the bindings. This is often hampered by the elastic portions of those bags. In the case where the bags are provided with slide fasteners so that they can be opened up and manipulated, there is the disadvantage that due to dirt settling in the slide fasteners, or due to corrosion they become useless. Besides, it is possible that the slide fasteners freeze in.

Moreover, due to the formation of folds in these bags, they become so soiled during transportation on a car top carrier that cleaning becomes rather difficult. These bags are also rather expensive, because their manufacture requires predominantly hand work. During the mass transportation of skis, for example on the top of buses, or in ski-carrying baskets at the rear of a bus, such bags can become easily torn.

Since these known devices enclose the skis only in the area of their bindings, there is the further shortcoming that the ski poles have to be either carried, or stored separately. Upon arrival at a ski resort, for example, this often means that the ski poles have to be individually sorted out from a container.

There are elongated ski bags which completely enclose the skis and poles together to form a single transportable unit. These ski bags however, have the disadvantages that the total weight of the unit to be transported is relatively great, and that they cannot be conveniently affixed to the conventional ski racks on car top carriers.

Finally, an enclosure has become known which covers only the ski bindings, and which is made from a rigid material with smooth surfaces, thereby allowing relatively easy cleaning. This cover has two shells which are adapted to enclose several pairs of skis. The first of these shells is rigidly connected to the car top,

whereas the second shell is placed and closed on the top once the skis have been inserted.

This cover is suitable only for transporting several pairs of skis together on a car roof that is specially equipped with this particular protecting means. It does not permit individual pairs of skis to be transported in a protective cover, or case to different places. Furthermore, this known cover does not permit the skis to be carried on conventional roof top carriers. And finally, this means is unsuitable for protecting skis from dirt when they are transported by a mass media on the roof, or in a ski-carrying basket. The applicability of this rather large and cumbersome means is actually restricted to transporting a group of skis, for example, for one family always travelling together in one especially equipped vehicle.

In the present invention, one pair of skis and ski poles are combined in a single, easily transportable unit being adapted to handle easily, to be easily cleaned, and to effectively protect the sensitive ski bindings from dirt. The unit also permits the skis to be attached to conventional roof racks or permit the poles and skis with dirtprotected bindings to be stored as one unit during mass transportation on the carrier of a bus, or in a skicarrying basket. The invention provides an elongated case protecting the skis, and abutting their running surfaces to prevent soiling in the area of their bindings. The case consists of two elongated rigid shells, which are hinged together along one longitudinal edge, and are attachable in that position by means of a closure, encasing the skis in the area of their bindings. On the outside of the case are formed longitudinally extending, groove-shaped recesses for accommodating the ski poles. The ski poles are affixed to the case by means of a holding clip.

Other embodiments of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing which discloses several embodiments of the invention. It is to be understood that the drawing is designed for the purposes of illustration only, and is not intended as a definition of the limits and scope of the invention disclosed.

In the drawings, wherein similar reference numerals denote similar elements throughout the several views:

FIG. I is a lateral elevation view of the device according to the present invention, depicting the side remote from the hinged edge;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines IIII of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines III- III of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a pair of skis with their poles, being combined to form a transportable unit, the skis being shown broken off at either end.

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, the invention substantially comprises two elongated rigid shells l which, as revealed by FIG. 2, are hinged together along their longitudinal edges 2, and are provided on their opposite elongated surface with a closing means 3. In a closed position, skis 4, are placed so that their running surfaces abut, and the area around their bindings are substantially protected from dirt. In FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, hinge-type arrangement 2 serving the hinged connection of both elongated rigid shells 1 as well as the closure means 3 have been shown only in schematic fash- FIGS. 2 and 4 reveal that shell 1 is provided n its I outside with two longitudinally extending grooveshaped recesses 5, which serve to accommodate ski poles 6. Where shell 1, as shown in the illustrated embodirnent, is substantially rectangular in cross-section, the embodiment is particularly advantageous when groove-shaped recesses 5 are disposed along two adjacent longitudinal edges of shell 1, because optimum packing compactness can be achieved for transportation.

Although it would be feasible to affix ski poles 6 in recesses 5 by means of individual holders, it is advantageous to attach to the front and rear end each of shell 1, a joint holder or strip 7 for both poles. The two holders extend transversely to the longitudinal direction of the case, and preferably have the configuration of clips as illustrated in the drawing.

The drawing further reveals that the unit comprising skis, protective case and ski poles is easily transportable when the case is provided with a carrying handle 8 in the area between the toe and heel portions of the binding. It is easy to carry the unit when the handle is placed at the approximate center of gravity.

FIG. 3 shows that in the lower shell between the front and heel portions of the bindings, a free space is formed which in the upper shell is used for the carrying handle 8, and in the lower shell may be used for storing small utensils, such as ski wax, edge sharpeners and the like so that these utensils are held available in the transportable unit.

The device described permits a secure protection of the ski binding, simple transportation of the ski poles and of small utensils, and can be cleaned fast and easily. Skis and ski poles being combined to form a unit can be affixed to all conventional ski carriers on motor vehicles, i.e. in horizontal as well as in vertical position, and the unit may remain undisturbed for mass transportation on bus roofs, or in bus carrier baskets.

While only a single embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is: 1. A device for transporting a pair of skis and ski poles, the skis having their running surfaces in abutment comprising:

two elongated rigid shells for encompassing the central portion of the skis, wherein one of said two shells includes a carrier handle being formed by a recess in the surface of that shell between the front and heel portion of the binding of the ski, said shell having the carrier handle also including at its two upper outer edges, groove-shaped recesses for accommodating the ski poles on either side of the carrying handle and holder clips disposed in front of and behind the carrier handle and attached to the lateral surfaces of said shell so that the clips can be secured across the ski poles and the grooves,

hinge means joining said shells together along at least one edge thereof; and,

closing means mounted on a further longitudinal edge for encasing the skis in the area of their bind- 

1. A device for transporting a pair of skis and ski poles, the skis having their running surfaces in abutment comprising: two elongated rigid shells for encompassing the central portion of the skis, wherein one of said two shells includes a carrier handle being formed by a recess in the surface of that shell between the front and heel portion of the binding of the ski, said shell having the carrier handle also including at its two upper outer edges, groove-shaped recesses for accommodating the ski poles on either side of the carrying handle and holder clips disposed in front of and behind the carrier handle and attached to the lateral surfaces of said shell so that the clips can be secured across the ski poles and the grooves, hinge means joining said shells together along at least one edge thereof; and, closing means mounted on a further longitudinal edge for encasing the skis in the area of their bindings. 